United Utilities has been granted drought permits enabling to increase the level of water it extracts from a number of boreholes and reservoirs in the North West to maintain supplies.
The Environment Agency said the drought permits, which allow some temporary changes to the amount of water the utility is allowed to abstract, have been issued in case they are needed later in the year to secure water supplies for people in the region.
The permits will enable the water company to help safeguard water supplies as a result of the prolonged dry weather period and exceptional shortage of rainfall.
They allow the utility to take additional water from Windermere and Scales boreholes in Cumbria, and Delph and Rivington reservoirs in Lancashire.
Earlier this month United Utilities called off its planned hosepipe ban – however, if the drought permits are used before the end of September the company will be required to introduce a hosepipe ban.
Jim Ratcliffe, Environment Agency drought manager, commented:
“The Environment Agency uses regulatory powers to manage water availability to maintain essential supplies for people and the environment and will always balance the needs of the public, industry, farmers and the environment.
“As the dry weather is set to continue into autumn, there could still be restrictions later in the summer so we continue to urge everyone to use water wisely.
“Our staff will continue to manage demand by working with farmers, businesses and others who abstract water."
The Agency is continuing to work with water companies across the country to ensure they are following robust drought plans, he added.
With the UK government demanding a 50% reduction in storm overflow spills by 2029, the era of reactive management is over. Speaking in the House of Commons on 21 July 2025, then environment secretary Steve Reed said, “This Government will cut water companies’ sewage pollution in half by the end of the decade.”
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